Carol Pounds Parkison

Life 'opportunities' are those challenges from which we survive, grow, learn and hopefully thrive. The thriving is the part of the opportunity to 'Overcome' and hopefully be able to pass on your experience, strength and hope. My opportunities have been in the form of betrayal by my best friend, a first love ending tragically, death of loved ones, surviving a violent crime, divorce, learning to trust again, learning to trust myself again, learning to love myself: if I do not love myself, then how can I ever love anyone else? The list can go on and on.

I can only tell you what it was like, what happened and what it is like now. My wish? My journey will give you hope to carry on, if only for today.

The movie "Steel Magnolias" displays women that bond and bend under the weight of their lives, loves, children and career. These women do not break, although they may feel like they have broken into a million pieces, their women friends are there to hold them up, put them back together and find their inner strength again. This movie is probably one of my favorite ones since I feel that kindred spirit of the women in the movie. I was raised in the South and the women here are truly amazing, then again, all women are, or so is my belief. I like to think of myself as "Just Another Steel Magnolia" or at least a 'wannabe'. We all will have to wait and see.

Blessings and Love in all your journeys,

Just Another Steel Magnolia